File for non-punched papers



July 30, 1963 w. sRENsEN 3,099,269

FILE FOR NoN-PUNCHED PAPERS INVENTOR /alter 'ren .ren

BY 0762;@ ww' ATTORNEYS July 30, 1963 w. sRENsEN 3,099,269

FILE FOR NoN-PUNCHED PAPERS Filed Nov. 8, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Walter .S'renserz ATTORNEYS 3,699,269 Patented July 30, 1963 ire 3,099,269 FILE FOR NON-PUNCHED PAPERS Walter Srensen, Rendsburg, Germany, assignor to Hunke & .Iochheirm Iserlohn, Germany, a rm Filed Nov. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 150,937 6 Claims. (Cl. 129-37) For holding together loose leaves, spring clamps made of thin steel sheet are used too, aside of the generally conventional letter clips. Such spring clamps are slid from above over the holding margin of the papers and properly hold together the latter. The advantage of the spring clamp is that it engages the margin of the papers and that the spring force acts along a line, whereas the letter clip practically is elfective in one point only, directly crushes the sheet margins and thereby deforms or damages same. Both said clips and clamps are destined and used only for temporarily fastening together the papers. On the other hand, paper files are on the market which cornprise a coverless simple sheet of cardboard on the lefthand margin of which is formed, by repeated folding, a niche or recess for accommodating the paper margins on one hand and a pocket on the other hand for a generally IVI-shaped fastening pin made of wire that is transversely movable therein. Said pin sets the niche free on being withdrawn and presses same against the base when being inserted. The clamping action here takes place at the tips, the groups of legs straddling against each other according to the gauge of the insert. Thicker inserts thus are crushed at the margin, tending to be forced out. This is avoided in the subject matter of the present invention.

To such end files, books or the like are formed, according to the invention, on one hand from at least one twoleg steel sheet clamping spring comprising a rib projecting on the clamping edge of one spring-leg and from a suitable flexible material on the other hand, the clamping spring being slidable crosswise on the fastening margin of said les or books so that the movement of drawingolf the clamping spring from folds or Webs of the le bodies, which serve as stops, is limited in that the springleg rib abuts against said stop.

Several forms of the invention are shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan View of the clamping spring,

FIG. 2 shows said spring in side View,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the spring, and

FIG. 4 depicts the arrangement of the spring on that file portion which comprises means for limiting the movement thereof,

FIG. 5 shows a form of the present file in perspective,

FIG. 6 illustrates a second form of the file in top plan View,

FIG. 7 shows a partial view of the developed file body of the form illustrated in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 depicts the prefolded file body of FIG. 7 in side View,

FIG. 9 shows a partial section through a third form of the file,

FIG. l0 depicts a second form of the clamping spring in perspective,

FIG. 1l shows in section the arrangement of this spring on a file according to FIG. 6 with the spring withdrawn,

FIG. 12 is a cross-section through the le shown in FIG. l1 with clamped papers, and

FIG. 13 illustrates the le shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 with a folding cover.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the clamping spring 1 is formed of a rectangular piece of steel sheet that is bent over in the longitudinal direction with a radius of curvature of about 1/12 inch and comprises two resilient clamping legs 2 and 3'. The leg 2 through its exterior end exerts a clamping pressure against the lower, longer leg 3. At the clamping edge of clamping leg 2 is a rig 4 produced by a compression of the sheet rim. This rib stitfens the clamping edge of clamping leg 2 and secures a linearly uniform engagement of the collection goods to clamping leg 3 which affords a plane base plate. Rib 4 moreover serves for limiting the slide path of clamping spring 1, as illustrated by FIG. 4. Here, clamping spring 1 is slid over a piece of cardboard 5 of which the left-hand portion is thickened by a rim fold 6. When drawing out the spr-ing to the left, rib 4 abuts against rim fold 6 that acts as stop, and limits the extension movement of clamping spring 1. In place of the fold `6, a plurality of fastening clips 7 arranged in a -row (right-hand portion of FIG. 4) could 'be used as a stop. Portfolio body 5 may consist, instead of cardboard, of leather, artificial leather, stiflened textile material, plastic, pressed material or impregnated materials of all kinds.

FIG. 5 shows the most simple exmaple of using the clamping spring 1 that is known per se, as sliding spring on an open portfolio or base. The carboard sheet 10 which forms the case, here comprises on its left side only two opposite folds 11, 12 i.e. fold 11 clockwise and fold 12 anticlockwise. Cardboard 10 at a distance of about s inch from the edge of the strip resulting on account of yfold 12, is provided with a slit 13 produced by a simple cut of the knife, i.e. without removing any material. The length of slit 13 corresponds, with slight addition, to the length of the clamping spring. The latter is slid into slit 13 with clamping leg 2, with clamping leg 3 engaging the exterior fold 11. It cannot be withdrawn again without using force, and only can be moved between the abutment of its back against fold 11 on the right and the abutment of rib 4 against web 14 (to the left of slit 13) on the left. In this latter position of the clamping spring, collection goods may be slid from the right underneath fold 12 and thus is engaged by the clamping pressure of rib 4 as soon as clamping spring 1 is moved to the right. When sliding-in the clamping spring, rib 4 is passed on the cardboard strip between the folds 11 and 12 over the goods without touching same.

This simplest embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, is not yet free of deficiencies and shortcomings. In particular, the topmost strip, produced by fold 12, while abutting against the collection goods in the range of the slide spring, will spread away, and this at an increasing rate towards the upper and the lower edge of sheet edges. Such effect may be counteracted either by sticking-down the strip or, as shown, by clipping the marginal portions. In the other embodiments such disadvantage does not arise.

In the example shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, case body 20 or 30 from the left-hand margin is `folded a-t 21, 22 and 23, the rst fold being at small dis-tance from the edge, and the lother two so that they leave strips of the width of fastening margins. From the innermost strip (FIGS. 7 and 8) a window 24 is `cut out along fold 23, that has substantially half the width of the strip and the length of theclamping spring (-1- addition). This window is so cut out that the two narrow sides and the long side at the fold are cut with the knife, while the other long side is formed by folding the ap 25 anticlockwise. The folds now all are wrapped in the ord-er 21, 22, 23 clockwise, one might say rolled-in, and thereby brought into the position shown in FIG` 8. The contours of the folded case body and of the clamping spring 1, as far as 'they would have to coincide in the top plan View of FIG. 6, for the sake of clarity are drawn at an angle to each other. The upper and lower edges of case-body prior to folding could, but will not have to, be bevelled from fold 2.3 to the outside edge so as to agree with the illustration in FIG. 6. Fold 23 having been rolled in, has become the fastening back, and fold 21 has moved upwardly immediately over same with the marginal fold 6 that forms a narrow strip so that fold 6 is visible th-rough the window 2'4`. Over and along this narrow strip is slid clamping leg 2 with rib 4. When sliding-in clamping spring 1, the clamping edge of rib 4 disappears below the inwardly folded ilap 2S. When drawing out clamping spring 1, the narrow folding strip 6 serves as stop for rib 4. Since here no unfolded edges are exposed, the folded structure is stiffened so well that it is held together well by the clamping spring without any fur-ther aid such as glueing or clipping. As indicated in FIG. 6, a thin tough and conveniently transparent foil A26 may be provided as case Kcover for protecting the tile papers, and this foil by its one edge is `connected to the case body 20 at the fold edge 23, as may be seen from FIG. 13. According to FIG. 6, the foil at the left margin is provided with a folded strip that has been folded once in a clockwise sense and that comprises a window opening within the range of spring 1. With this folded strip, the foil engages 4the fold 21 of the case, while the web of the strip remaining in the window opening is covered by the flap 25. The tile papers are inserted between the case bottom 20 and the lightly folded fastening strips.

According to FIGS. 7 and 8, the foil is dispensed with. The case body 20, 30 however is made double the size of the embodiments Iaccording to FIGS. and 6 and by means of a fold 36 close to the transverse centre axis is formed to a case or portfolio having ya cover sitting on the right. The right-hand case margin has two incisions 37 so as to produce ya ap 38 which is folded clockwise, .i.e. towards the reverse side of the case body which becomes the cover top-side. This flap 38 serves as handle jfor the fcover. The marginal flaps of cover 30 that remain above `and below flap 38, may be inserted into the recess at fold 22 for closing the cover.

FIG. 9 shows a turn-over book in which the cover 50 is located on the left on the side of the clamping spring. FIG. 9 is a cross-section, the bend of clamping spring 1 being. shown exaggerated for clarification. A cardboard 40, 50 of double size is divided in the centre by a fold 41. On both sides of said fold and separated by the width of the fastening margin, fold 42, 43 each is struck in the opposite sense so that the top or bottom margin of -the case, when seen laterally, has the form of a prone M with extremely long outer legs. The folding disappears inside the `covers which iirst are entirely smooth. In the foldable top cover 50, however, is provided a window 44 for the insertion of clamping spring 1, which extends accurately beside fold 43 and of which the short sides are formed by knife slots, while the long sides are limited by folded-over flaps that remain after having made the knife slots in the longtiudinal direction of the window and that are folded-over inwardly. The inner ap 45 provided as stop for the rib 4, is struck about about the existing fold 43, while the outer flap 4S is struck about a fold of its own and stiffens the window. The le papers 8 inserted in the clamping fold of the case, already are subjected to the clamping pressure of the clamping spring 1 which has been inserted only partially.

In the second embodiment of the clamping spring 1, the rib 4 forming the clamping edge of clamping leg 2, consists of a marginal angular bend of said leg. By this formation of the rib 4, the certainty of the abutment thereof against folding strip 6 is improved `and at the same time the sliding path of the clamping spring is increased so that in the inserted position the clamping pressure Itakes place at .the youtermost fold edge 22 of the clamping fold of the case, while in the extended position ofthe clamping spring the clamping fold of the case may be opened unhindered, as shown in FIGS. 11 and l2. The case or portfolio shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 substantially corresponds to that of FIG. 6-, which is particularly suited yfor using the second embodiment of the clamping spring. This case may be designed with or without protecting cover 26 (FIGS. 6v and 13).

Of special advantage is a marginal angular bend in which the leg 4 provided with a band 4 includes yan acute `angle with the clamping leg 2, :or respectively forms a corresponding hook. In this design of leg 2, the stop at the end of the extension path of spring `1 is materialized in that the angular-ly ben-t end portion of leg 4 engages from below the lightly opened end-fold 6 that forms the counterhook, as may |be clearly :seen from FIGS. l1 and 13. This not only ensures a certain limit-ation of the extension path of spring 2 but at the sarne time also a steep opening operation of the clamping fold 22 that is ledge-like. Therefore, the -frle papers 8 may be readily and completely inserted -up to the interior portion of the folding edge 24 of the ledge-like clamping .'fold 22 and there finds on the entire length -a stop that no longer permits of a lateral or angular displacement.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will Ibe understood `by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that vario-us changes and modiiications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I -cliaim `as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A le |adapted to hold a plurality of superposed paper Isheets without perforating the sheets, comprising, in combination, a reverted sheet-metal clip formed to provide a pair of legs having confronting faces spaced by la resilient bright, one of said legs having a projection on the confronting face thereof adjacent its free end; la le sheet comprised of la iback sheet having la iirst reverted portion extending forwardly thereover, a second reverted portion extending rearwardly toward the fold line of said rst reverted portion, and Ia third reverted portion extending forwardly of said second reverted portion, said third reverted portion `for-ming a stop, said sheet having la. longitudinal slot formed along a rfold line adjacent its edge, said one of said legs of said `clip extending through said slot with the other of said legs positioned exteriorly and rearwardly of said back sheet; said clip sliding transversely lof the fold ylines of said back sheet with the engagement of said projection `and said stop precluding movement of said one leg out of said slot, whereby when the paper sheets are inserted between said 'back sheet and said iirst reverted portion with `said clip withdrawn from said slot, movement of said clip toward said sheets until said bight engages the edge of said back sheet clamps the sheets Ibetween the edge of said back sheet and said iirst reverted portion.

2. The structure of claim l wherein said projection on said one of said legs of -said clip comprises an elongated indentation.

3. rPhe structure Iof claim l wherein said projection on said one of said legs of said clip comprises a reverted edge portion thereof.

4. rllhe structure o-f claim 1 wherein la :front sheet is secured to one of said reverted portions and extends over said back sheet.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said lthird reverted portion is Iformed interiorly lof said slot and said second reverted portion includes Ia front sheet.

6. The structure of claim y1 wherein the `outer-most or" said reverted portions adjacent said slot is provided with a cutaway recess to provide a finger hole for engaging said ione leg :of said clip to slide the lsame inwardly and outwardly relative to said slot.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thuge May 17, Fowler Dec. 7, Stern Aug. 13,

FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland May 16, Great Britain Apr. 14, 

1. A FILE ADAPTED TO HOLD A PLURALITY OF SUPERPOSED PAPER SHEETS WITHOUT PERFORATING THE SHEETS, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A REVERTED SHEET-METAL CLIP FORMED TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF LEGS HAVING CONFRONTING FACES SPACED BY A RESILIENT BIGHT, ONE OF SAID LEGS HAVING A PROJECTION ON THE CONFRONTING FACE THEREOF ADJACENT ITS FREE END; A FILE SHEET COMPRISED OF A BACK SHEET HAVING A FIRST REVERTED PORTION EXTENDING FORWARDLY THEREOVER, A SECOND REVERTED PORTION EXTENDING REARWARDLY TOWARD THE FOLD LINE OF SAID FIRST REVERTED PORTION, AND A THIRD REVERTED PORTION EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF SAID SECOND REVERTED PORTION, SAID THIRD REVERTED PORTION FORMING A STOP, SAID SHEET HAVING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT FORMED ALONG A FOLD LINE ADJACENT ITS EDGE, SAID ONE OF SAID LEGS OF SAID CLIP EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT WITH THE OTHER OF SAID LEGS POSITIONED EXTERIORLY AND REARWARDLY OF SAID BACK SHEET; SAID CLIP SLIDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE FOLD LINES OF SAID BACK SHEET WITH THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID PROJECTION AND SAID STOP PRECLUDING MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE LEG OUT OF SAID SLOT, WHEREBY WHEN THE PAPER SHEETS ARE INSERTED BETWEEN SAID BACK SHEET AND SAID FIRST REVERTED PORTION WITH SAID CLIP WITHDRAWN FROM SAID SLOT, MOVEMENT OF SAID CLIP TOWARD SAID SHEETS UNTIL SAID BIGHT ENGAGES THE EDGE OF SAID BACK SHEET CLAMPS THE SHEETS BETWEEN THE EDGE OF SAID BACK SHEET AND SAID FIRST REVERTED PORTION. 